sb_max510

ok so i have a 1 max with 141k miles on it
and i cant seem to pass CA smog i was wondering what might be the problem



This is were the smog tech said i failed at
under the ECS catogory
I Failed on MIL (dont know What this is)

MAX= MAXIMUM ALLOWED EMISSIONS
AVE= AVERAGE EMISSIONS FOR PASSING VEHICLES
MEAS= AMOUNT MEASURED

Hc(ppm)

(15mph)
Max 114
Ave 31
Meas 160

(25mph)
Max 88
Ave 20
Meas 88
No highlight on this 25 mph test so i think it was ok here


so later that day i looked under my hood and my distributer cap was busted so i went and picked one up from autozone for $20 and replaced it along with a cable i picked up at the junk yard and did a oil change

Then a few days later i went back for a retest
The MIL passed

but i came back with high HC(PPM) Again
@(15MPH)
MAX: 114
GP: 288
MEAS:264

@(25MPH)
MAX: 88
GP: 238
MEAS:259

my CO% also went up on this test
@(15MPH)
MAX:0.73
GP:2.23
MEAS:1.23

@(25MPH)
MAX: 0.61
GP:2.11
MEAS:1.21
AFTER THE TEST MY RESULTS CAME BACK AS A FAIL IN THE 15MPH SECTION
AND A GROSS POLLUTER IN THE 25 MPH SECTION


so far i changed my spark plugs and wires,ran seafoam on my motor,did another oil change and replaced the air filter , tomorrow im going to clean the Mass air flow sensor with some CRC Mass air flow sensor cleaner and try to locate and replace the PVC valve,i also notice most of my hoses are all crusty so im going to replace most of them tomorrow also

jbbons25

iTrader: (2)

What were the other results? It will give a better idea on what else needs to be checked.

But it you haven't done so already, I would check the O2 sensor, fuel filter, ignition coil, distributor rotor and EGR.

EDIT: Thinking about it more, it seems that it is running very rich. You might want to check on the injectors too and the catalytic.

sb_max510

CO2(%)
@15(MPH) 1635(RPM) MEAS 14.22
@25(MPH) 1630(RPM) MEAS 14.20

O2(%)
MEAS
0.01@15MPH
0.00@25MPH

NO (ppm)
MAX
785@15MPH
724@25MPH

GP
1982 @15MPH
1782 @25MPH

MEAS
31 @15MPH
27 @25MPH

I ran a serch and found and found a old post about someone asking how to clean the egr valvehttp://forums.maxima.org/3rd-generat...egr-valve.html i clicked the links but they were down some info on that would be helpful
for the injectors how do i check those ,can i just use some STP and clean them??
For the catalytic converter can i clean it or do i have to replace it?
ill check and replace the O2, fuel filter, and ignition coil if i need to
and most likely i will i bought the car form a older lady i think she didn't have anything like that changed cause the wires were OEM when i changed them the car has 141k on it so im guessing its time to change it all i just need to smog and get my reg cause someone stole my tags and now i got a ticket to fight after that im geting rid of the car cause its just a big money problem for me being unemployed

James92SE

iTrader: (31)

In all my 3rd gen emissions passing troubles, I've found the cat is a bigger issue than the EGR. My newest VE wouldn't pass emissions even though it runs like butter and I had a brand new EGR valve and all new vacuum hoses on it. I finally buckled and put in a new cat and it took the emissions levels down to near miniscule levels. Although, in California, you probably have to have some goofy ridiculously expensive cat or something rather

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

I used to live in Livermore and I had a car (not a Max) that wouldn't pass smog. I had the dealer work on the car and they couldn't fix it. So I took it to a state operated testing station to get an exemption so I could get my license. I had to go to Fremont, but the guy there knew his stuff and he told me what to check and he was right.

sb_max510

yeah cats here are stupidly expensive like $300,its hard for me to come up with that cash since i got laid off

sb_max510

so you got your car to be smog exempt in CA?? thats cool how did you go about doing that? i got a few friend that would enjoy having a smog exempt car

1993-VG30E-GXE

If you live in the city, there's guys you can find to pay off to get a pass, I take it like it's 2 yrs limit there too? You'll need to find a hook up though. On my GXE I spent quite a bit replacing everything including the entire exhaust system, but it still ended up failing. At a certain point you need to call it quits and just drive the thing. I found that work around last yr, but after I overhauled it, I wonder if it would pass now.

Are your spark plugs fouled, dirty oily black residue?

1993-VG30E-GXE

Oh also check if they have the repair limit too. If you save all your receipts for the parts and the labor that your doing, you may get a 'conditional pass' which most programs have. The repair limit here is $400.00 I think, and they are trying to raise it.

Basically, their trying to discourage people keeping old cars on the road. Most people at a point will give in and send it to the JY. Don't get discouraged though, there's ALWAYS a work around.

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

Order your Cat from Warpspeed for $100.....

sb_max510

thats a good price but in California the smog law is retarded i think we need a certant cat

eric93SE

iTrader: (1)

Run some seafoam through the intake manifold, make sure you do it VERY slowly. use the search feature to learn more.

DennisMik

iTrader: (2)

All you could get was a one year exemption. You had to pass the next one.

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

that applies to OBDII cars. not OBDI.

sb_max510

Ran it already

Big_E-Dog

iTrader: (14)

yeah our cars need to have a barcode on it if it is installed after 2009 specifying its for our make and model.

sb_max510

hook up within bay area????
getting desperate

FUEL INJECTOR IS LEAKING!!!

1993-VG30E-GXE

I may run into the same problem as you guys in the spring. Scam government is including my GXE in the program area starting next spring.

Is it possible to make our cars pass these days? Any of you guys in the program area getting your 3rd gens to pass?

Any tips for the test:
- Should I slightly ADVANCE the timing or RETARD it, I can't remember which way
- 94 octane better than 87?
- Seafoam in the gas tank? Any proof it does anything?

My carbon canister is old and disconnected on the bottom hose to where the radiator goes and that 2nd bottom hose they call the 'drain' hose that aims upwards into the chassis. Vent hose from the gas tank that goes all the way to the carbon canister is gone, will I have to create that line.

James92SE

iTrader: (31)

What do you mean by the "program area"?

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

he's canadian, don't mind him.

1993-VG30E-GXE

coverage zone

oxygen

idk much about california laws or what tickets you can get etc if your inspection isn't current but i'd just say **** it and not go back.

in NJ inspection stickers are pretty lawless, cops overlook them a lot, in PA even the stupid parking authority here in Philly can ticket you for expired inspection so it totally sucks. good luck whatever you decide to do but I know if I just got laid off (I did in September I'm FINALLY back to work) I'd say **** inspection and forget about the car, just drive when nescessary

1993-VG30E-GXE

In Ontario they force you to get it. They get you by not allowing you to renew the vehicle license unless you show them the emmissions report. Then they cross reference your code on the emmissions report to see if it's valid from the garage or test place that is linked to the government system.

James92SE

iTrader: (31)

Ooookay...

Let me rephrase:

By "program area" and "coverage zone", do you mean that you now are required by law to have your car emissions tested to pass inspection?

If so, as far as I know, most major metropolitan areas in the USA require emissions testing. I know in Texas in Dallas and the surrounding area it's required by law to pass emissions in order to renew the annual inspection. Some of the rural areas don't require emissions testing in order to renew the inspection and the inspection only consists of a safety equipment check.

You asked "is it possible to make our cars pass these days?" - why of course it's possible. My newest VE just passed emissions with flying colors. My other VE has trouble passing every year but it has low compression in one cylinder. I anticipate my blue VE will pass with flying colors as well as soon as I get it all sorted out with the new engine and whatnot.

1993-VG30E-GXE

That's good news James - I just wasn't sure what made mine fail 2 yrs ago. Basically I found a work around, and now that work around won't work. I don't need to get it tested until OCT 2010, and the only part that failed 3 yrs ago, was the HIGH NOx. The VG30 was consuming mad oil, and finally got a major overhaul this past summer, so I wonder if that alone solved the problem. We'll see in the spring when I get it tested.

Yes, that's what I meant, the GXE now falls in the coverage zone so it's required by law to be tested.

Darkwing48

iTrader: (1)

In Cali, you can register your car until you get SMOG pass. No Registration = No new tags. No Tags = car taken away from you when the 5 0 pulls you over.

jbbons25

iTrader: (2)

You should be okay now if you had the oil problem taken care of. Here were my results back in 07 when I would take mad care of it

15 MPH
RPM: 1638
CO2%: 14.5
O2% 0.0
HC (PPM): 8
CO%: 0.02
NO (PPM): 26

25MPH
RPM: 1672
CO2%: 14.5
O2%: 0.0
HC (PPM): 11
CO%: 0.02
NO (PPM): 35

Not sure if my car would pass back when it had the exhaust manifold leaks. But I got till next year to do the smog check.

sb_max510

yea i did a tune up but now i got a fuel injector problem and my gas millage sucks i put gas in my car 2 days ago and only drove a few miles and now its almost on E again this car is becoming a headache and its hard for me to fix it cause im unemployed and i have a deadline to somg my car in January cause someone stole my tags and i got a ticket for no registration cause i cant smog the car,i only had it for 3 months and its hell already

Darkwing48

iTrader: (1)

Another good tips, when you get the smog passed, is when you get new tags, use a razor to hack up the tag. Make cross patterns. That way if anyone attempts to try to steal it, they're wasting their time because the tag won't come out as a whole. It'll be in shreds and the sticky part makes it worse.